Plaintiff comes most immediately from Middle English plaintif, itself an Anglo-French borrowing tracing back to plaint, meaning "lamentation." (The English word plaintive is also related.) Logically enough, …

Plaintiff is the party who initiates a lawsuit in a civil case by filing a complaint against the defendant or, in some proceedings, the respondent (depending on the type of civil case).

A plaintiff (Π in legal shorthand) is the party who initiates a lawsuit (also known as an action) before a court. By doing so, the plaintiff seeks a legal remedy.

The plaintiff claimed damages for the financial losses suffered through breach of copyright. Judges in three states have sided with the plaintiffs.

Jan 30, 2026 · In legal proceedings, the term plaintiff identifies the person or group that starts a lawsuit. By filing a case, the plaintiff asks the court to protect a legal right or provide a solution for a specific …

Plaintiff, the party who brings a legal action or in whose name it is brought—as opposed to the defendant, the party who is being sued. The term corresponds to petitioner in equity and civil law and …

PLAINTIFF definition: a person who brings suit in a court (defendant ). See examples of plaintiff used in a sentence.

Definition of plaintiff noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Sep 30, 2025 · Who is a plaintiff in law? Learn the role of a plaintiff in lawsuits, how they differ from defendants, and what rights they have in the legal process.

Dec 23, 2014 · Plaintiff is the term used to describe a party who initiates a court action, whether a lawsuit in civil court, or charges in criminal court, in order to seek a legal remedy. The party …